Toople PLC (LON:TOOP) listed the 10th May 2016, DirectorsTalk took the opportunity to talk with Andy Hollingworth, Toople PLC CEO to ask a few questions;
Q1. Andy, can you tell us about Toople’s target audience and what makes you different from any other telco?
A1. At the last count there were 5.2m SMEs (small – medium enterprises) businesses in the UK with less than 50 employees. Employing circa 15 million people.
The reliance on data connectivity, specifically broadband, for any sized business is critical. No broadband, no productivity and challenging experiences for their customers. Many workplaces would struggle to operate if they were not connected to the information superhighway, email and other app based content that runs their business, indeed the majority of telephone calls today are even routed over the internet, and, most of the time the customer does not even know this.
That’s where the number of SMEs and, availability and quality of broadband are inextricably linked. At Toople.com, following extensive insight research, small businesses tell us the following, we are different to a consumer! BT, Virgin Media, Sky treat us in a prosumer way, we need subtle differences, we want an every day low price, so we can budget, not a promo to sign us up and then price goes up mid contract, we want to dial customer services in the UK, not abroad, also if we can self serve via a portal or app then great, and most importantly its got to just work!! That’s where Toople.com will be an online first provider, through its website www.toople.com
Q2. So why did you set up Toople Plc?
A2. You don’t have to go far on the web to find negative comments from small businesses complaining about the poor quality telco service they receive. SMEs are growing quickly but that doesn’t mean to say they have spare capacity to manage their telecoms, and they shouldn’t have to. In our research, we listened to the concerns of the small business owner. It’s accessing bills, invoicing information and services used that was firm interest. Many commented that their current provider makes it very difficult to look up and download bills, change billing information or leverage additional services – even though they thought they would be of interest to the broadband/telco supplier.
We have developed the Toople offering very carefully. Yes, any broadband service should – just work – without having to cross your fingers. But it’s our software that’s the real driving force for our clients. Intuitive, dynamic and totally at our client’s service; it has a huge bandwidth of capability without demanding huge amounts of time or effort from the user.
It offers value that set us apart from any competitor, here’s how:
- This is a real USP. With the proficiency to work with and assist our client’s grow, we can offer more than just a broadband service. Yet, Merlin’s MyAccount comes free as part of broadband offering
- It has the capability to revolutionise SMEs with the capacity to deliver time efficiencies and drive revenue – this cannot be understated
- We own the IP to this software – called Merlin – that has nearly a million man hours of programming, development and design behind it
- The software delivers full automation, zero touch ordering, provisioning right through to billing, makes us very scalable
- Within the software is a full ERP platform, delivering functionality of: HR, Sales/CRM, Marketing, Finance, Billing, Support functions, Task and Ticketing, Cloud file sharing
- Being cloud based, Merlin is future proof and adept at managing client’s future needs and developments.
- Our intention will be to deliver a cut down version of the software to our customers over time, like a “Salesforce Lite” for small to medium sized businesses. And, as we own the software and all of the IP then we are able to do this at a very cost effective price against similar technologies such as the behemoth that is Sales Force
- Quote/configure and order everything online.
With these key benefits to our clients using our innovative platform, our customers can’t help but benefit. Allied to that, our broadband is streamed into three easy to understand products, we certainly don’t to confuse anyone. When you also combine this with our straight talking guarantee – a limitation on technical language – everyone knows exactly where they stand.
Q3. Now a lot of companies outsource there customer services are you doing this?
A3. We are a UK based business with all our agents here in the UK, providing easy assistance, if our customers would rather speak to a human to order or get great after sales experience, then we will happily help.
Q4 So what’s your aim for the company?
A4. Ultimately, we want to see businesses prosper. What Sky, Virgin Media and BT etc… all haven’t appreciated is that the market dynamics have moved. Take recruitment for example, niche suppliers – specialists in one particular industry sector – are more mobile, and clients trust their abilities to focus on one area more than a large “generalist”. This benchmark is relevant because it gives us an opportunity through Merlin to focus on what clients really want, rather than using broad shoulders and hoovering up clients who’ve been blinkered into thinking what they offer is the right way. The generalists are big battleships; difficult to turn. Toople.com is agile, intuitive and customer focused, being highly automated through the Merlin software, supports and executes these simple principles.
That’s why I believe that Toople Plc will become the defacto choice for small business.
